Customer Reviews

Shadow of a Dark Queen

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

Well, I picked up my first Feist novel about 10 years ago, and have enjoyed his writing ever since. The Serpentwar Saga is set perhaps 50 years after the end of the Riftwar. If you have not already read Feist's riftwar saga, then I suggest you do so before picking up this book. Also, you should read Prince of the Blood and The King's Buccaneer, because these two "in between" books chronicle the events that lead up to the "Serpentwar".

In general, Feist's writing is clear and entertaining. These books rarely bog down, and are generally a quick read. There is nothing particularly new or genre-altering in Feist's work, but his novels are quite a bit of fun all the same.

I would wholeheartedly recommend the Serpentwar saga to anyone who has already read the Riftwar books and is looking for more. These books won't change your life, but you'll certainly have a great time reading them.

Shadow of a Dark Queen is the newest adventure set on the world of Midkemia. Set approximately twenty five years after the last book, this novel introduces the reader to an all new cast of characters.

The story evolves around young Erik von Darkmoor and Rupert "Roo" Avery. Gone are the great heroes from earlier novels, such as Arutha, Pug, Lyam, Borric, and Jimmy the Hand. While a few members of the original cast have brief appearances, the story is largely comprised of all new characters and takes place in the land introduced in King's Buccaneer, Novindus.

Unlike previous Feist novels, inside we find characters who are in the gray area between good and evil. The characters appear to have been written to be more identifiable by the reader, but I think I related more to the original cast more. Most of the new characters are basically good, but not in the same vein as Arutha conDoin and Mara of the Acoma. Where Mara and Arutha were fighting for the Kingdom and the Empire, Erik and Roo fight for their lives and their families. Expect a different feel from this new series than you got from previous works.

Overall, the story was very good, only getting bad marks for being a tad on the technical side. If you are a military buff, you will thoroughly enjoy this book, as will most readers who have liked Feist's earlier books.

In the Shadow of a Dark Queen is a thrilling book by Raymond E. Feist. In it a boy becomes a man, a old war is reinvestigated, and an evil older then time itself reappears. The book is suspenseful, and keeps readers on the end of their seats. I give it a five star rating. I thought that it was a wonderful example of sci-fi fantasy. It is comparable with Tolkiens Lord of the Rings. It delighted me and sort of made me feel like I was in the story. Feists books don't give a lot of character depth, but they are fun to read and make you want to be one of the characters. The storyline will not work if you do not read Magician 1&2, Silverthorn, A Darkness at Sethanon, Prince of the Blood, and The Kings Buccaneer. It is overall a wonderful book

Well, Feist... One of todays most prolific fantasy writers! I have just finished re-reading the RIFTWAR and SERPENTWAR sagas, and even though I know all the twists and turns, plotlines, and characters, I always feel welcomed back to the world of Midkemia. See, thats the talent that Feist has; he sucks you in, and never lets you go! He has a rare talent also, to create worlds all too real to our own. The characters are real, even the places seem real. I highly recommend these multi volume epics to any fantasy reader who just wants to slip away to another realm...for all eternity...

Once again, Raymond Feist has done what few fantasy authors can do well, bring a complex world to life. Eric von Darkmoor and Rupert Avery pick up the gauntlet that was laid down by Pug and Tomas after the RiftWar. S.O.A.D.Q. is a masterpiece in a series of unbelievable books. I haven't been so engrossed since a Darkness at Sethanon. The Panthain serpent priest are back causing trouble for the kingdom. A group of "Desperate " men are assembled to infiltrate the Emerald Queen's army and find out the advancing armies weaknesses. The story unravels as Calis (Tomas' son) leads a group into the midst of an enemy army. The characters are in depth and believable, far from the normal cookie cutter characters of many other series. This book is filled with adventures and battles, as well as Feist trademark humor. It is a must read for any fantasy fan.

I can't stress enough the importance of reading the other books before you start this series. Read Magician1&2, Silverthorn and A Darkness of Sethanon, Prince of the Blood, King's Buccaneer in that order... The people who have rated this book (and perhaps the rest of this series) poor, has obviously not read Mr. Feist's other work. This is a work of art and, Mr. Feist is the only one who even comes close to Terry Goodkind and Robert Jordan as Fantasy authors... Read the others first but eventually you'll have to read these as well!

In this sequel to The King's Buccaneer, author Raymond Feist takes us back to his magical world of Midkemia, some twenty four years later. Erik von Darkmoor and Rupert Avery have been convicted of murder, but are offered their lives if they will join a mad scheme, joining a group of desperate men on a secret mission from which they may or may not return. The evil Pantathian snake men are hatching a new plot on the continent of Novindus, and someone needs to find out what they are up to and, if possible, to stop them. But, this is indeed a dangerous mission. Can Erik and "Roo" survive? And, what will they find in Novindus?

Raymond Feist's Riftwar books were great, with epic adventure and magic, while his later books enjoyed a somewhat smaller scope. But, with this, the first book of the Sepentwar Saga, Mr. Feist has returned to the big time. The story is grand, with adventure written as big as the continent that it takes place on! The action is gripping and will leave you on the edge of your seat - it starts on page one, and, after a somewhat slow introduction of the main characters, gains momentum, and charges through to a magical (literally) crescendo!

Yep, this is a great book, the start of a great trilogy. I like the characters and the setting, and really enjoyed the new race introduced, the reptilian Sauur. Most of all, I liked the Hall of Worlds with its fascinating inhabitants. I so hope that Mr. Feist will consider writing a book that develops the Hall of Worlds more!

So, I would say that this is a simply excellent fantasy book, one of the best that was ever written, and I highly recommend it to you. Buy this book!

Let me warn you that this was the first Feist's book I've read. I don't know the stories before or after this book's events (except what the book itself hints).

Although the book places higher focus in the story than in character development, all characters are credible and have charisma. The story is good and fluid, no dull moments, no rushed parts. All consistent.

Feist writes in a very pleasant way. I guess that even if the story wouldn't worth much, his pleasant writting would make it worth. You'll always be wanting to turn the pages and enjoy the story. In some parts, it'd be like reading an historical fiction, if there weren't magic (very little) and other humanoid races. The fantasy setting it's just a way to give the author freedom to make a good story, not a way to make some spectacular show off.

I recommend this book, without any doubts, to any fantasy reader. I would even recommend it to non-fantasy ones.

I am a very big fan of Raymond Feist, but not really of this series. I have read all of the books up to the Darkwar saga and have always found them good reads and full of interesting characters.

This Serpentwar Saga does not have the same spark that his other sagas have had. I found that the characters are less than interesting, even ones that I have liked in past books and the books are just hard to get through. I also found that these books are full of young teenage rapes and really graphic details on murder of children etc... I don't remember this so much in his other stories. I understand that in Sci-Fi/Fantasy books things can get a little gory etc... but this time his books seem to be full of things that made me very uncomfortable and seemed completely unnecessary. I think in his other books he was able to show the horrors of war and the horrors of what people can become and/or do etc... without raping every teenage girl in the book and graphically describing children being thrown from cliffs etc...

I just really felt that this series was not up to snuff when it comes to books written by Feist. I would actually have to say that this is the first time I would recommend a parent think twice before they allow children to read this series.

All in all, this series to me is just filler. The books are not as good as the books that came before and are not as good as the books that have came after. You should read them for continuity, but don't expect too much.

This begins the best series I've ever read bar none. the Serpentwar Saga has been read by me over ten times. Can't get enough of it. I love Sho Pi and Nakor(Who is my favorite) His take on philosophy and the universe is original and plausible.

Excellent fantasy.

**A book I would also recommend is The Unsuspecting Mage by Brian S. Pratt. This, the first installment of The Morcyth Saga is a great beginning for a new author. Battles, magic, gods, secret passages and intrigue, all the elements of a classic epic fantasy! Any fantasy reader will enjoy it